Looptail is indeed a fascinating look at Bruce Poon Tip and the formation of his travel company, G Adventures (formerly GAP). He doesn't pull any punches about the difficulties he encountered growing up facing prejudice after his family moved to Canada, the difficulties he faced while starting up his travel company and the difficulties he ran up against from the travel industry in forming a company that ran against the grain of basic tourist packaged trips. He even encounters resistance from his own workers as he tries to bring forward his vision as to how the company should run, one that goes beyond mere numbers.
It is a story that can be shared from many entrepreneurs who started up companies that ran against the grain. You have to convince yourself that your idea will work, You have to convince family and friends that you're not irrational. You have to convince people and financial institutions that your idea is worth funding and you have to convince those you hire at first that the company will succeed and prosper. Bruce Poon Tip tells his story in a very entertaining and insightful manner, such that the book reads like a can't-put-down thriller.
What do you do when you're told that your ship, carrying 154 passengers, crew and staff, is sinking off the Antarctic and the world is watching your every move? How would you react if you were offered $70 million for your company? Could you manage an escape if you were arrested and held prisoner in Burma? How Poon Tip handles these instances and many more gives great insights into what made him successful. The book also shows other aspects of his career such as the best ways to give back to communities all over the world and how to deal with employee issues, including handling the bottom 10% of workers who are most involved in the company's extra-curricular activities but do the least actual work. He makes it clear that being unpopular (to the point of actual threats) comes with the territory when you're trying to take your company in a new direction and shake employees out of their comfort zone.
Bruce Poon Tip writes, "To me, someone creating a company isn't any different than an artist who writes a song or creates a painting or a magnificent sculpture. Art is about putting your ideas, thoughts, heart and soul into your work." He definitely put all those elements into Looptail, a book that is recommended for anyone looking for insights into how to run a successful business while maintaining one's positive karma. It is not your typical book but, then again, Bruce Poon Tip isn't your typical person. Read Looptail and find out why.
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| Bruce and myself at the beach |
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